The Northeast cannabis market continues to grow and develop, making industry connectivity more critical than ever. Serving as the annual epicenter for the region’s cannabis professionals, the New England Cannabis Convention (NECANN) Boston returns to the Hynes Convention Center on April 24 and 25. Since its inception in 2015, NECANN Boston has grown from a regional gathering to the undisputed must-attend B2B event for the East Coast cannabis sector. Having attended the conference last year, I can personally attest to the energy this convention provides for entrepreneurs, operators and brands looking to expand into regulated markets.

As the largest B2B cannabis convention on the East Coast and the second largest in the country, NECANN Boston’s footprint is truly massive. The event projects to bring together over 9,000 industry professionals and decision makers this year. Last year, the sheer scale of the event became apparent to me the moment I stepped off the show floor. While eating lunch a few blocks from the convention center, I looked around the restaurant and realized that almost everyone there was wearing a NECANN badge. The conference basically takes over the neighborhoods around Boston, creating spontaneous networking opportunities wherever you go. With over 300 exhibitors spanning the entire cannabis value chain – including cultivation, extraction, packaging, compliance and retail – the convention serves as the ultimate proving ground for brands.

While the show floor is where the essential deals are made, after-hours networking elevates NECANN to a level of its own. Last year, I experienced one of the most memorable events I’ve ever attended in the cannabis industry: Frolic in the Park at Fenway Park, hosted by The Weedaker Group. Standing in one of the country’s most iconic sporting venues, alongside hundreds of fellow cannabis professionals, perfectly sums up how far our industry has come. It’s these kinds of legendary, larger-than-life gatherings that make a trip to Boston absolutely essential for anyone serious about building their network in this space.

Beyond exclusive stands and parties, NECANN’s real value lies in its highly tailored, region-specific educational agenda. I found last year’s programming to be incredibly eclectic and informative, a trend that is fully continuing into 2026. This year’s program features a variety of programming sessions designed to address real-world challenges that operators face. Rather than recycling generic industry summaries, the tracks dive deep into the weeds of regulatory updates, operational best practices, and the unique market dynamics of Massachusetts and its neighboring states.

Regardless of your role in the industry, the knowledge provided by successful operators and regulators is invaluable. A highlight returning this year is the much-anticipated NECANN Cup, celebrating the best regional products, which takes place on Friday afternoon. Additionally, the event maintains its strong commitment to the local community, dedicating 10% of its exhibit space to social capital licensees and advocacy organizations. If you want to stay ahead of the regulatory curve and build meaningful relationships in the Northeast, NECANN Boston 2026 is the place to be.

If you’re paying attention to the Mid-Atlantic cannabis industry, Philadelphia is the place to be next week. On April 18, the Pennsylvania Convention Center will host 2026 Pennsylvania Convention on Cannabis (PACC). This year’s gathering feels distinctly different, driven by real, promising progress on the adult-use legalization front that is shifting conversations from speculative to strategic.

Pennsylvania already boasts one of the nation’s most robust medical programs, generating over $1.7 billion in annual sales and ranking as the sixth largest retail cannabis market in the US, despite not yet having an adult-use framework. While those numbers already rival or exceed the total sales of many established recreational states, analysts estimate that the current medical program captures only about 35% of the state’s true $5 billion demand for cannabis. Moving to a fully regulated adult-use market would allow Pennsylvania to recoup the massive untapped revenue currently lost to the illegal market and border state distributors.

Recent reports indicate that the political stars are finally starting to align towards adult use. Gov. Josh Shapiro has made adult-use legalization the centerpiece of his 2026–2027 budget proposal, framing it not just as criminal justice reform but as an economic engine projected to bring in more than $720 million in first-year revenue and licensing fees. He is constantly pressing lawmakers to get a bill across the finish line, noting that Pennsylvania is losing out while nearly every border state runs a for-profit program for adults.

This moment is greatly influencing the programs and topics at the convention. When you look at the schedule, the top educational tracks perfectly capture a market in transition. The day kicks off with a fireside chat with Jim Belushi of Belushi’s Farm, bringing a high-profile, boots-on-the-ground perspective to the event. From there, programming moves into the operational and regulatory realities of running a cannabis business in the state, with sessions like “Inside the Grow” detailing how Pennsylvania’s licensed growers are actively preparing for market expansion.

For anyone looking to understand current points of friction and the road ahead, the session “Cannabis in Pennsylvania: A Roundtable of Industry Leaders” will be essential. Moderated by Meredith Buettner, Executive Director of the PA Cannabis Coalition, the panel brings together senior executives from operators such as INSA, Restore Dispensaries and Curaleaf to provide candid perspectives on regulatory challenges, market pressures and business sustainability as the industry evolves.

More importantly, the convention is not just looking at how to open the market, but how to build it responsibly. The Parabola Center for Law and Policy is bringing an extremely timely panel to Philadelphia titled “Built to Fail or Built to Last? Equality Lessons from Rule of Law States.” With Pennsylvania actively shaping its approach to legalizing adult use, policy experts from New York, New Jersey and Virginia will examine what has actually worked to create real access for small businesses and capital applicants, and what structural tools Pennsylvania should adopt to ensure the market works for a broad range of participants.

I will be attending the convention as press and look forward to walking the floor and sitting in on these sessions. Getting out from behind the desk and hearing directly from the advocates, operators and experts who are shaping the state’s industry in real time is invaluable.

The progress being made in Harrisburg right now is very promising and the market potential is undeniable. If you want to understand where Pennsylvania cannabis is going and connect with the people driving it forward, come join the fun and learning in Philadelphia next week!

In his One Hitters series, host Jon Purow connects with cannabis luminaries while on the road traveling to industry events! Registered locally at MJ broken downin this episode Jon sits down for some quick questions and answers to hear about many aspects of the cannabis industry. MJ Unpacked is returning to Atlantic City this May, click here for more information!

Listen to the episode:

This episode features conversations with:

Lauren AvenueCEO, Node Labs Inc.

Node Labs Inc. is a California-based plant science and agricultural biotechnology company specializing in cannabis tissue culture and pure genetics. Using micropropagation techniques, the company produces pathogen-free, genetically stable cannabis plants for growers, while also restoring, conserving and preserving high-value strains for long-term use. This approach allows growers to scale production with healthier inputs, reduce disease risk (including issues like latent hop viroid) and maintain stable genetic profiles across harvests, positioning Node Labs as a behind-the-scenes infrastructure player in modern cannabis cultivation.

Jasmine JohnsonCEO, The essence of GÜD

GUD Essence is a vertically integrated medical cannabis company focused on research-driven product development and patient-centered care, with operations that include cultivation, product formulation and dispensary retail. The company emphasizes advancing the science of cannabis “from seed to sale,” collaborating with medical researchers to explore applications of the cannabinoid for conditions such as cancer and sickle cell disease, while developing customized formulations based on patient needs and biometrics. Positioned as a healthcare-oriented brand and retail network, GUD Essence aims to combine clinical research, technology and personalized treatment approaches to improve patient outcomes within regulated medical cannabis markets.